Honoring Rogelio Delgado: Support for His Family’s Future

Honoring Rogelio Delgado: Support for His Family’s Future

In memory of our beloved father, Rogelio Rivera Delgado, who was taken from us far too soon at the age of 68, after a brave but brief battle with cancer. This campaign seeks to honor the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to his family, his community, and those around him. As we mourn his loss, we also face the daunting challenge of securing the future for my mother, Millie Delgado, and covering the unforeseen expenses, including funeral and medical costs, that his passing has brought upon us.

Our Story: In January, when I last visited my parents, my father was full of life, his usual energetic self, spreading joy as he always did every single day. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see him healthy. The rapid progression of his illness was nothing short of devastating. Within a week of his hospital admission in mid-August, we were given the heartbreaking news—there was no hope. The cancer had spread too quickly, too aggressively. At just 68 years old, with two children, a wife, a granddaughter, and so many loved ones – his journey would be cut devastatingly short.

My father was more than just a Dad; he was the heart and soul of our community. All across Long Island, he was known for his dedication as a coach to countless sports teams, shaping the lives of thousands of kids and fostering bonds that lasted long after the final whistle blew. As a corrections officer, he showed unparalleled dedication to his work, even returning to multiple jobs after his “retirement” to provide for his family. One of those jobs post-corrections was as a security guard in the Three Village district, where he would help mentor and protect children for many years.

Despite his tireless work, my father leaves behind no material wealth, placing my mother, Millie Delgado, in a precarious financial position. Their home, which they’ve lived in for two decades, still carries hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt—a burden worsened by the multi-year suspension of his pension in 2012. This suspension led to a financial setback from which they were never able to recover fully and suffer from to this day.

Why We Need Your Help: The funds we are seeking will be used to help secure our family home, ensuring that my mother, Millie, can repair and sustain the home that my father worked so hard to provide. The funds will also be used to cover the funeral and vast medical costs that my family will have to bear due to his tragic demise. It was one of my father’s dying wishes that we create this campaign to financially aid my mother Millie.

We are aware that the amount we need is substantial, but my father was deeply loved by so many, and we believe that together, we can meet this challenge.

A Lasting Impact: By contributing to this campaign, you are not just helping us cover expenses—you are preserving the legacy of a man who gave everything he had to his family, his work, and his loving community. Every donation, no matter how small, is a tribute to my father’s life and an investment in the future he so desperately wanted to secure for us.

How You Can Help:

• Donate: Any amount you can give will make a difference.

• Share Your Stories and Spread the Word: Please share how my father impacted your life; your stories mean the world to us. Additionally, sharing this campaign with your network will help us reach as many people as possible.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and generosity.

We love you “Coach Roger” - “Rock” - “Dad”